Season of the Spirit resource to promote faith and justice

Jesuit Communications is hoping the Holy Spirit will come to life in Catholic schools and ministries across Australia with a new prayer resource to be launched at Pentecost this year.

Through late May to the end of June, Australia marks a number of important faith and justice events on the calendar. This year, Jesuit Communications has put together a new resource, titled ‘Season of the Spirit’, to provide weekly staff and student prayers throughout this season.

‘Season of the Spirit’ invites staff and students to consider how the coming of the Holy Spirit encourages us and invites us to consider our relationships with God, each other and creation.

Beginning with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the resource will encourage people to reflect prayerfully on how God is calling them to be his people in the world today. Each weekly prayer includes a scripture reading and reflection, with videos and other prayer resources to deepen people’s experiences.

The six-week program takes in a number of religious and secular events, and focuses on a range of social justice issues:

Week 1: Pentecost (20 May)

Week 2: Reconciliation week (27 May – 3 June)

Week 3: World Environment Day (3 June)

Week 4: Care for the homeless (10 June)

Week 5: Refugee Week (17 – 23 June)

Week 6: Feast of St Aloysius in the Jubilee Year (21 June)

The prayer resource has been written by James O’Brien, and includes reflections from Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ.

‘The social justice days that we mark through May and June aren’t just discrete events – taken together they form an opportunity to shape the life and conscience of Australia’, said Michael McVeigh, from Jesuit Communications.

‘Communities across the country will be marking Reconciliation Week, World Environment Day and Refugee Week. We want to help Catholic communities become moved into action through prayer and conversation.

‘Pentecost provides an ideal time to launch this program. It’s a reminder that all of us are called, as followers of Christ, to listen and be moved by the Holy Spirit to build God’s Kingdom in the world today.’

There are two versions of the resource – one for secondary students, and one for staff in schools and other ministries. Teachers can use the student reflections in homeroom on the first day of the week, or as part of a broader school assembly. Staff prayers can be used in morning meetings, or emailed out for personal prayer.